Onondaga Community College celebrated the accomplishments of its young scholars, hosting an Early College Program Recognition Ceremony. A total of 99 students in Early OCC, P-TECH, and Spartan Academy were recognized for earning a place on the honor roll during the fall 2025 semester.
Spend a few minutes chatting with Cassaundra Richardson, and you will quickly realize she has a boundless amount of energy and enthusiasm for life. At age 31 she's a full-time student at Onondaga Community College who was recently inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, works full-time as Dean of Students at OnTech Charter High School in Syracuse, co-parents 9 children, and runs a business on the side. "I'm fortunate to wake up every day and enjoy what I do. It's amazing to find something I'm passionate about because it's not like I'm working. These kids - it's worth it.
When Jennifer Gridley heard about the new SUNY Reconnect program, she knew it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity she couldn’t pass up. SUNY Reconnect is a new, tuition-free community college program for students between the ages of 25 and 55 who have not yet earned a college degree. It covers the cost of tuition, fees, books, and supplies after all other financial aid is applied.
Andrew Blodgett '22 decided at a very young age where he would work one day. "I remember being 8 or 10 years old and we were driving down Route 104 (in the Oswego County town of Scriba). I pointed at the cooling tower and said, 'What's that?' My parents said, 'That's the cloud factory.' I said, 'I want to work at the cloud factory one day!'"
Throughout the spring semester, we are introducing you to several of our Student Success Navigators. For Onondaga Community College students, they are the dedicated point of contact for support. Student Success Navigators assist with class registration, help students stay on track academically, and connect students with campus resources to support their success.
AJ Suslovic
Marquita Hetherington knew she had reached a turning point in her career. Despite years of experience, she wasn't advancing - but not because of her performance. "I was passed over because I didn't have a degree. It prompted me to go back to school."
Terrell Horton's decision to enroll at Onondaga Community College can be traced back to something he saw while driving on Route 695 in Geddes near the New York State Fairgrounds. "I saw a billboard advertising free applications at SUNY schools for the first week of November. We had just found out my wife was pregnant, and I decided to jump in and see what happens. I applied to OCC and here I am. I'm here because of a billboard!"
What started as a community service effort by the Onondaga Community College Women’s Basketball team grew into an Education Day celebration that brought hundreds of students, teachers, and staff to the OCC campus.
The story began during the fall semester, when Women’s Basketball Coach Kelly Seibt was looking for a school where her players could volunteer. A connection came through Katelyn Pulver, who works with Seibt in OCC’s Financial Aid Center and whose sister, Jessica Matzke, is a third-grade teacher at Onondaga Central’s Wheeler Elementary School.
What began as a five-week summer program has grown into a lasting academic and personal bond. On January 18, students from Onondaga Community College’s 2025 Pre-College Summer Semiconductor Program reunited in New York City, trading winter coats for warm memories as they reflected on how the experience shaped their confidence, college readiness, and career goals.
